Pantone has just announced that its 2015 Color of the Year is Marsala, an earthy red with a tinge of brown – exactly the color I have on the walls of the library in my house.

(Don’t be too impressed. We put shelves in an unused living room. Voila. Library.)

Pantone is marketing Marsala as a great color for kitchens and dining rooms, which stands to reason: Red stimulates our appetites. But this red is also subdued and sophisticated, making it a great choice as an accent color in other rooms.